Separating apparatus



May 3, 1949. c. c. HERMANN S EPARATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1945 iuivhii ii= liil-i-iilulilr lnil Patented May 3, 1949 SEPARATING APPARATUS Clarence C. Hermann, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich., assignor to Claude B. Schneible Application December 29, 1945, Serial No. 638,288

8 Claims.

This invention relates to separating apparatus, and more particularly to separating apparatus of the conveyor type. The invention is particularly useful as a dewatering tank from which Water is recovered on one side and heavy and light solids recovered or discharged on the other.

In the separation of solids from liquids in some installations, part of the material settles to the bottom and part of it floats on the surface of the liquid. To economically remove the floating material without providing elaborate apparatus provides a problem. This is particularly true in installations, such as polishing Work, cork dust, and micarta collection systems where the floating material is particulate and fine and in which a portion of the collected solids settles to the bottom of the dewatering tank.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus whereby the main sludge-removing conveyor is employed as the prime removal agent, and auxiliary means of inexpensive structure are employed to feed such conveyor. A further object is to provide simple means which may be operated with a minimum of power for sweepin the top surface of the liquid and to feed it into the path of the main solids conveyor. Yet

another object is to provide an improved de-.

Watering tank in which a predetermined level is maintained and cooperating sweeper systems provided for eliminating both floating and settled material simultaneously. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment by the accompanying drawing, in Which- Figure l is a side view in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; and Fig. 2, a rear View in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

In the illustration given, A designates a tank which is preferably fabricated of steel and provided with an extended chute B. C designates the main solids conveyor belt.

The tank A may be of any suitable construction. In the illustration given, it is substantially rectangular in shape except that the forward side thereof is inclined at It] to form, with the extended portion B, an inclined wall or chute leading from the bottom of the tank to a point of discharge Well above the tank. The chute B may be of any suitable shape or type.

The walls of the chute B, both within the tank and in the extended portion, are preferably inclined inwardly so as to converge the solids upon the inclined wall In where they may be engaged by the flights of the conveyor C.

The tank A is provided with a distribution trough H which preferably extends across the tank and distributes the material uniformly therein. Such construction being old and well known, it is not claimed per se herein. At the rear of the tank A is a weir wall I2 and a skimmer plate at. A pipe 14 leads from tank A to a pump or source of suction (not shown). Tanks of the character described are regularly provided with suction withdrawal pumps, by means of which water may be withdrawn and returned to various antecedent stations for reuse.

In front of the weir wall I2 is a sludge space in which settled solids drop into a position where they may be engaged by the flight conveyor C. A drain pipe i5 is preferably provided in the bottom of the sludge space for draining off liquid when desired.

The flight conveyor C is of well-known construction and need not be described in detail. The chain belts I6, which travel in pairs, are provided with flights or ribs l1 connecting them and are carried by the spaced pairs of sprocket wheels l8, l9 and 20.

Sprocket wheel I8 is carried by shaft 2|, and upon the same shaft is a drive sprocket 22 driven by the sprocket 23 connected through the reduction gearing 24 to motor 25. Sprocket wheels [9 are carried upon the idler shaft 26 and sprocket wheels 23 are carried by idler shaft 21. With the construction shown, solids are picked up by the flights ll of the belt I6 and carried up the inclined wall ll! of chute B and discharged at 28.

In my improved apparatus, I provide means for sweeping the top surface of the liquid and discharging the material around the conveyor belt [6 whereby this belt is utilized to discharge such floating material along with the material which had settled into the bottom of the tank. To handle the floating material, I provide an auxiliary conveyor consisting of the chains 29 and provided with flights 30. The chains 29 are mounted on sprockets 3f carried by shaft 26,

and at their forward end are carried by sprocket wheels 32 mounted on idler shaft 33. In the normal operation of shaft 26, therefore, the auxiliary conveyor 29 is set in motion and serves to sweep in a forward direction the floating material Within the tank and to discharge it along the sides of the tank where the converging walls direct it behind the main conveyor C.

While I have shown a pair of conveyors, each being located on the opposite side of the spm ket [9, it will be understood that a single conveyor 29 may be employed if desired and it will serve to direct the floating material, though not as effectively, into the area behind the belt l6.

Suitable standards 34 may be employed to support the extended chute B, and upon the chute standards 35 support a platform 35 upon which the motor and associated parts are mounted. In Fig. 2, the sloping sides of the walls within the tank about the chute and which direct solids inwardly toward the conveyor C are shown by dotted lines 31. A partition wall 38 may be employed to support the weir wall I2 at the inclined position shown.

In the operation of the apparatus, liquid, such as water containing material which floats and which tends to settle at the bottom, is discharged, as in the usual way, into the distribution trough l l from which it enters the main body of the tank, and a liquid level is maintained at a point where the water can flow in a thin body over the weir wall l2, the skimmer plate 13 serving to prevent any floating material from leaving the main sludge chamber. The settled sludge is removed by the conveyor C in its normal manner, the flights ll moving the material up the inclined wall I!) of the chute B and discharging it through 28. Working in unison with the conveyor C, the auxiliary conveyor 29, which is driven by the shaft 26 of the main conveyor C, causes its flights 3 3 to sweep forwardly, bringin the flights 30 against the top surface of the liquid so as to move any floating material in the top portion of the liquid toward the front of the tank. Part of the floating material which is advanced by the auxiliary conveyor .29 may pass through the space between the chains [6 of the conveyor C and are engaged by the flights l1. Most of the floating material, however, is advanced in a straight line by the conveyors 29 and then directed inwardly behind the chains l6 by the inclined walls of the chute, thus avoiding any contact with the chains or flights until they are directly in the path of the flights which are emergin from the liquid. With this operation, the floatingmaterial meets substantially no obstruction and is directed smoothly and evenly into the path of the emerging flights l1.

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth a specific structure with the details thereof for the purpose of explaining one mode of operation of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid containing solids which in part tend to settle and in part tend to float on the liquid, said tank having an inclined wall leading from the bottom to the top of the tank, means for introducing liquid containin solids into the tank, an endless conveyorsupported for movement in spaced relation with said Wall, means carried by said conveyor and adjacent said wall for moving submerged solids up said wall as the conveyor is advanced, means for moving the conveyor, means for moving the floating material in said tank to a position where it will be engaged by said conveyor means as it emerges from the liquids, means for moving said last-mentioned means, and means for removing'clarified liquid from the tank.

2, -In separation apparatuaa tank adapted to receive liquid containing isolids, some .of.v which sink and some of which float in the liquid, said tank being provided with an inclined wall leading from the bottom portion of the tank to the top portion of the tank, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, an endless conveyor adjacent said inclined wall and cooperating therewith to carry submerged solids up said wall and above the liquid level, means for moving the conveyor, means for sweeping the floating material in said tank against said inclined wall and in contact with said conveyor means for removal thereby, means for moving said last-mentioned means, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

3. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and particulate matter, part or which sinks and part of which floats in the,

liquid, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, a chute communicating with the bottom portion of the tank and extending above the tank at an inclined angle, means in said chute for advancin heavy solids upwardly above said tank, means for moving said advancing means, means for sweeping the top portion of the liquid to direct floating material in said chute and in the path of said advancing means, means for moving said last-mentioned means, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

l. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and floating and settling particulate matter and provided with means for maintaining a liquid level within said'tank, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, a chute communicating with the bottom portion of the tank and extending above the tank at an inclined angle, means in said chute for advancing heavy solids upwardly and out of said tank, means for moving said advancing means, means for sweeping the top portion of the liquid to direct floating material into said chute and into the path of said advancing means, means for moving said last-mentioned means, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

5. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and particulate matter, part of which floats and part of which settles in the liquid, a weir wall in said tank, a skimmer plate adjacent said weir wall and preventing floating material from leaving the tank, means for feeding liquid to and withdrawing liquid from said.

tank, said tank being provided with an inclined wall leading from the bottom of the tank to the top thereof, conveyor means for advancing settled material along said inclined wall and out of said tank, means for moving said conveyor, for sweeping the floating material into the path of said advancing means for removal from said tank, said last-mentioned means comprising an endless conveyor equipped with flights and mounted in parallel relation with the surface of the liquid to bring said flights into contact with the surface of said liquid, and means for moving said sweeping means.

6. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and particulate matter, part of which settles and parts of which floats in the liquid, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, said tank having an inclined wall communicating with the bottom portion of the tank and extending to the top thereof, means for advancing heavy solids along said inclined wall and out of said tank, said means comprising a centrally-locatedbelt conveyor equipped with flights, and an auxiliary en'dless c'on 'rey'or driven by saidflrshmentionedconveyor "and located" laterally thereof, means for moving said advancing means, said auxiliary conveyor being provided with flights moving in contact with a parallel relation to the top surface of the liquid, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

7. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and particulate matter, part of which settles and part of which floats in the liquid, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, said tank having an inclined wall communicating with the bottom portion of the tank and extending to the top thereof, means for advancing heavy solids along said inclined wall and out of said tank, said means comprising a centrally-located belt conveyor equipped with flights and a pair of auxiliary endless conveyors each mounted on an opposite side of said firstmentioned conveyor and carried by the same shaft, means for moving said advancing means, said auxiliary conveyors being provided with flights which are brought into contact with and in parallel relation to the top surface of the liquid to direct floating material into the path of said first-mentioned conveyer, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

8. In separation apparatus, a tank adapted to receive liquid and particulate matter, part of which settles and part of which floats in the liquid, means for introducing liquid containing solids into the tank, a chute communicating with the bottom portion of the tank and extending above the tank at an inclined angle, an endless chain conveyor carried by a plurality of sprockets and having a portion thereof extending in parallel relation with said chute, flights carried by said conveyor and adapted to advance solids upwardly in the chute to discharge the same from said tank, a pair of endless chain conveyors mounted on either side of said first-mentioned conveyor and driven thereby, means for moving said firstmentioned chain conveyor, said auxiliary conveyors being equipped with flights for sweeping the top surface of the liquid to direct floating material into said chute and into the path of said first-mentioned conveyor, and means for removing clarified liquid from the tank.

CLARENCE C. HERMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

